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mondegreenFrom the better-late-than-never department, here's my report on CBGB's (my first LH show, which I waited six looong months for) ...
THE LH SETOn 2/14, at the little hole in the wall that is CBGB's, I saw the Grand Canyon of modern rock.
Anyone who's seen or spent time in the Canyon probably knows what I'm trying to say. Many things in life are better in the anticipation than in the reality. Few things fully measure up to our expectations, and most are a little less great than we imagined they'd be. It's very rare to learn that the object of your anticipation is
more than what you dreamed.
The Grand Canyon is one of those very rare phenomena: No matter how high your expectations before you ever lay eyes on it, for most people the reality of the Canyon surpasses them by a long shot. I thought I detected a similar quality in this band and its frontman.
Turns out I wasn't wrong. At all.
As soon as Marty blasted onto the stage to the opening chords of "Arrow," it was all over. It was more like a takeover than the start of a set. (Or more like being swept into the abyss, if you prefer.) Lovehammers pull you into their performance, pull you into their music, pull you into the reality they create in the space, and command all your thoughts and senses. It ceases to be a "show" and becomes an immersive experience. You quickly learn that all your expectations pale in comparison with the real deal.
And that's the way it was, from that first chord through the last. Such is the power and effect of these four guys' talents, ball-busting hard work, and (dare I say, with apologies to Marty) gifts. To paraphrase something Marty said in a recent interview (and to further mix my metaphors), it felt like I'd been abducted by aliens ... only, in my case, I didn't want to be returned to Earth.
Another testament to the magic of this band: Live, I found myself loving tunes that I only had liked until then ... such as "Hold On" and "Clinic." And my favorites? Beyond fantastic. Those included "Tunnel," "Low-Life Insurance," "This Town," and "Arrow."
You know the full set list and other details, so I won't repeat them. Instead I'll share some other moments that stood out for me ...
- The times Marty grasped and held tightly on to people's hands in the crowd when he was singing. It struck me as a two-way exchange of energy and support. It was almost as if I could actually see the charge flowing both ways between Marty and the other person.
- The look of pure delight I caught on Billy's face several times during the set. That's what I call loving your work!
- Dino rocking out with that mangled hand of his. Honestly, I'm in awe of this. That was a very serious injury, and I still can't wrap my head around the fact that he's been playing through it!
- The realism of Marty's delivery. I'm not sure why — maybe it's that zone he's in on stage — but the lyrics feel fully spontaneous and honest. He sounds like he means every last word at that moment. Like when he sang "Say you'll never leave me," I couldn't help but think, "Did you hear that? Huh? You can't possibly leave this guy, whoever you are!"
- The "laugh." I need help on this, because I can't remember what song this happened with, but Marty sang a line that ends in "laugh," and Sheria (BimCo) immediately produced this incredible, amazing, resounding laugh at exactly the right moment. You had to see the look on Marty's face — priceless!
- The Q&A among Marty, Dino, and the audience. "Who here is from New York?" Cheers. "Who's from another state?" Louder cheers. "Who's from another country?" One big, loud SHRIEK! So Marty said something about how that one was just scared, and everybody cracked up. Then Dino asked who was from another planet, and the whole crowd about died laughing.
- Tisha's bra. Marty held up the Lovehammers-red bra that Tish had thrown on the stage and wondered if he should throw it back because it looked like a critical support system.
- Marty diving into the crowd during the encore, right between myohmy and me. It was a blast to be rocking out with a bunch of hammerheads — with Marty in the middle! I'd reflexively put a hand on his back as he made his way through the crowd the first time, because that spot of floor was especially rotten and bumpy, and I'd been falling off my own feet all night! But he made it through without going ass-over-teakettle ;D. BTW, little parts of the building even fell off the ceiling that night (sort of like rockfalls in Grand Canyon). What a great old dump CBGB's is!
I had my camera with me but was leery about using it. For me, it was a choice between recording an event and
experiencing it. The few times I did try to shoot a frame, it pulled me out of the moment and I felt "lost." So I got only about half a dozen LH shots, none of them any good aesthetically. But at least I got two fun pics, which I dubbed "Demon Marty" and "Mr. Hand."
Long story short: I've seen many of the great rock acts live, and until that night, my top live shows were Zeppelin, Prince, Bowie, Queen, and the Moody Blues. But none of those greats gave me a better experience than LH at CBGB's. None. And the only one that's been even better than I'd imagined is this bunch of guys we know as Billy, Bobby, Dino, and Marty.
If that's not extraordinary talent and power all wrapped up in music and performance art, then I don't know what is.
POST-SETmyohmy and I headed toward the bathrooms, but in the hallway we stopped to cool down in the breeze blowing through. That's when I saw Marty standing at the doorway to one of the two "green rooms" off the hall and a few people starting to cluster around him. These rooms, BTW, have no doors and only one way in and out. I knew that if
I were in Marty's shoes at that moment, I'd feel trapped and overwhelmed. So ... in a pathetic effort to give him a little mental space, I turned my back to him! But within seconds, of course, the few people around him became a throng and then a full-blown crowd. I saw Marty and Billy smiling and talking with fans, signing stuff, and taking pics, and I marveled at their grace in close quarters with so many people clamoring for their attention.
I've been
dying to talk to Marty (and to Dino and Bobby and Billy and Dan Howard), but in an effort to be "considerate," I passed up my chance to say hello and thanks and to pour my heart out in 60 seconds or less. Was I disappointed? Yes. Do I regret the choice I made? No.
But, next time! Next time!
BEFORE & AFTER CBGB'sRunning on a tight schedule because of other obligations that day, I met up with my friend myohmy (who I have LH to thank for!). We did our own personal meet-and-greet for a bit, since it was the first time we'd actually seen each other though we've come to feel like friends over the past several months. Then we met up with a bunch of other hammerheads for dinner. The group included Jamie in Worth and her son Charlie, yakketyyak, wendyc122, madamerubi, Jeannine and her husband Ken. Apologies to anyone I've forgotten to list. Then gary and his friend Jenny met up with us at the tail end of dinner and we all headed over to the club.
I also got to meet stephd/lnsmum, who'd come all the way from Kentucky for her first LH show (and first trip to NY) and who I was thrilled to see. We were in line outside CBGB's when Steph yelled my board name from the curb. I got a kick out of the fact that people started calling to me, "Hey, mondegreen," and I got tapped on the shoulder! (My pic isn't on any of the boards.) I only wish Steph and I would've had more time to talk that night.
After CBGB's, a bunch of us went to a nearby pub for a drink. (Last call at a NY bar — CBGB's, no less — at 11:30 p.m.
What's up with that?!?) By then, rockbeast had joined the gang, and we all know it's a ton of fun to have the Beast around! Too bad I had to leave before 1:30 a.m., to catch the next-to-last commuter train from Manhattan to the home of a relative on LI.
Check out the geographic representation by just the people I've named here: California, Seattle, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and upstate New York, plus Brooklyn and Queens. When I mentioned this to a friend, she was honestly impressed: "Wow! I only expect that kind of following for a band like the Stones!" Well, people, "Stay tuned" is what I say!
For me, hanging with all these people was like being with good friends. That didn't surprise me with myohmy, because we
have become friends over the months and across the miles, but I was amazed that I felt so comfortable with everyone that night. I tend to be reserved around people I hardly know, but not with these guys! (Hey, angie, I'm now sure I would not be shy around you! LOL) You all are great people, and I feel privileged to know you. Thank you for making me feel so welcome.
I drove home 125 miles from the metro NY area the next evening, during rush hour and on less than five hours' sleep, but I was grinning like a fool for the entire 2-1/2 hours.
Since then, I've experienced the infamous post-LH "crash," but I've recovered enough to write up these notes ... and to start setting my sights on my next LH show. It had better be soon!
I'm just writing a few lines before I start to work. Marty was a lean, mean singing machine. I'm Trying to recall the highlights, but that's hard, because it was all good. They did "Low Life Insurance" - Marty said they wanted to, but couldn't get it on the new album. They performed "Ring of Fire" - that was a plus. Dino and Bobby were working up such a sweat, the droplets were flying around. Billy is very cute in person. Marty did the encore "sans shirt", and even went into the crowd like that. I did manage to touch his sweaty arm and hand. 
)
we had a great meal at the NoHo Star and got to chat for a bit..but we could all tell we were antsy to get to the club....to get in line...as early as we could....the night was thankfully mild....so walking around was not bad. And everything was very close. We did get in line relatively early...and soon they were letting us in....luckily 
...wish I could have done that! I had so much fun meeting everyone....wish I could have met more of the Hammerheads....I did meet stephd briefly....hope you had a great time...